The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided an update on its ongo-ing national study currently underway to better understand any potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Results of the study, which Congress requested EPA to complete, are expected to be released in a draft for public and peer review in 2014. The update provided today outlines work cur-rently underway, including the status of research projects that will inform the fi-nal study. It is important to note that while this progress report outlines the framework for the final study, it does not draw conclusions about the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, which will be made in the final study. As the administration and EPA have made clear, natural gas has a central role to play in our energy future, and this important domestic fuel source has extensive economic, energy security, and environmental benefits. The study EPA is currently undertaking is part of EPA’s focus to ensure that the Ad-ministration continues to work to expand production of this important domestic resource safely and responsibly. Among the information released today are updates on 18 research projects and details on the agency’s research approach as well as next steps for these ongoing projects and analyses. EPA has engaged stakeholders, including industry, to ensure that the study reflects current prac-tices in hydraulic fracturing. EPA continues to request data and information from the public and stakeholders and has put out a formal request for information which can be accessed through the federal register at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/11/09/2012-27452/request-for-information-to-inform-hydraulic-fracturing-research-related-to-drinking-water-resources EPA also expects to release a draft report of results from the study in late 2014. The study has been designated a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment, mean-ing it will receive the highest level of peer review in accordance with EPA’s peer review handbook before it is finalized. The 2014 draft report will synthesize the results from the ongoing projects together with the scientific literature to answer the study’s main research questions. EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) is forming a panel of independent experts which will review and provide their individual input on the ongoing study to EPA. The SAB will provide an opportunity for the public to offer comments for consid-eration by the individual panel members. For more information on the SAB proc-ess, please visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/WebCommittees/BOARD More information: www.epa.gov/hfstudy

Volume III No. 1 Quarterly Newsletter 2013

U.S. EPA R E G I O N V I I I P R E P A R E D N E S S

EPA Releases Update on Ongoing Hydraulic Fracturing Study

Partner Corner More localized info? Check out these sites.

Montana

Wyoming

North Dakota

South Dakota

Utah

Colorado

Denver

Contents: Training & Exercises: Pg 2  Toxics Release Inven‐tory: Pg 3  Tier II  Pg 4  Sinclair Refinery Penalty: Pg 4  Sundance & Box Elder Contamination: Pg5  Whitefish River Cleanup: Pg 6 

The Region 8 Preparedness Unit assists communities and facilities with emergency prepared-ness and accident prevention. Our emergency preparedness activities focus on strengthening the ability of EPA, local, state and other response organizations to respond effectively to fu-ture chemical accidents. As part of EPA’s comprehensive program for protecting the public and the environment from hazardous materials spills, we offer a variety of training opportu-nities. The courses we offer are designed for personnel who respond to emergencies or who investigate and/or cleanup abandoned hazardous waste sites. We can host training in your local jurisdiction and attendance is free!

Some of our most popular courses are listed here: CAMEO Training, 40 hr HAZWOPER Train-ing, 8 hr HAZWOPER Refresher Training, Air Monitoring for Emergency Response, Environ-mental Remediation Technologies, Overview of Environmental Geophysics, Radiation Safety Overview, Basic Chemical Hazard Identification Course, Practical Hazardous Materials Instru-mentation, Unknown Chemical Identification Course, Hazardous Materials Chemistry for Haz-ardous Materials Specialists, Level A Sampling Exercise, Clandestine Chemical Safety Train-ing.

You can also contact our training “dai-sensei” Mark Wullstein at 303-312-6152, or wull-stein.mark@epa.gov. Call him, you’ll be glad you did.

The Colorado Emergency Management Association (CEMA) has scheduled an Emergency Management Conference in Loveland, CO on February 26-28. Registration for that confer-ence is now available. For more information, registration, and agenda go to http://www.cemacolorado.com/

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Training & Exercises

Region 8 Training and Exercises Region 8 creates a Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) annually discussing our latest priorities and methodologies in addressing those regional training and exercise (T&E) priorities. A schedule listing our regional trainings and exercises is developed for each year showing the type of T&E, location, time, sponsor, participants and regional priorities being addressed (see attached T&E Schedule). We are always looking to assist and participate in exercises with regard to our responsibili-ties - chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) events as well as other hazardous materials incidents. Please contact Luke Chavez (chavez.luke@epa.gov, 320-312-6512) - Exercise Coordinator if you have any questions regarding EPA Region 8 T&E or have an exercise that we may assist you in. Planning and Exercise Schedule

Emergency Management Conference

TRI is a database containing data on disposal or other releases of over 650 toxic chemicals from thousands of U.S. facilities and information about how facilities manage those chemicals through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment. One of TRI's primary purposes is to inform communities about toxic chemical releases to the environment. Did you know that TRI collects information on the actions businesses have taken to prevent pol-lution and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals entering the environment? Now you can use TRI's new pollution prevention search tool to see which industrial facilities reported the largest reductions and what measures were most effective. To learn more about TRI's P2 information, visit the new TRI P2 webpage. The 2011 TRI dataset that EPA will use to construct the 2011 TRI National Analysis report is now available. The National Analysis is planned for publication in December. http://iaspub.epa.gov/triexplorer/tri_release.chemical

A request for proposals titled "Increasing Community Awareness and Use of Environmental In-formation through Education and Outreach" is now available. This announcement, which is also posted on Grants.gov, solicits proposals that will increase awareness, understanding and use of the Toxics Release Inventory data and other related toxic chemical information to new audi-ences and through new avenues. The deadline for proposals is March 1, 2013.

The EPA’s TRI Program has launched a new initiative focused on developing sustained, mutu-ally-beneficial relationships with colleges and universities. Beginning this fall, we'll be looking for colleges and universities to collaborate with us on a variety of exciting projects related to using, understanding and increasing awareness of TRI in academic communities. In the mean-time, we encourage you to learn more about the TRI University Engagement Initiative, look at the results from our two pilot projects and watch the website for announcements about the up-coming fall application period.

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USING MARPLOT FOR SEARCH & RESCUE Toxics Release Inventory

Grant Funding Opportunity Announced

Announcing the TRI University Engagement Initiative

The newest version of Tier2 Submit is available for Reporting Year (RY) 2012, which can be used to report EPCRA Tier II chemical inventory data by the March 1, 2013, deadline for RY 2012. Your state may have specific reporting requirements; therefore, you should first check with your state. You can confirm state requirements, download the correct version of Tier2 Submit for your system if your state accepts it, and obtain the Facility Submission Guide at the following URL: www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/tier2.htm EPA has developed frequently asked questions that provide general guidance about the use of Tier2 Submit. The FAQs are available at the following URL: www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/tier2submitfaq.htm For questions regarding Tier II Reporting, please contact the TRI, EPCRA, RMP & Oil Information Center at: (800) 424-9346 -- Toll Free (703) 412-9810 -- Metropolitan DC area and international calls (800) 553-7672 -- Toll Free TDD (703) 412-3323 -- Metropolitan DC area and international TDD To speak with an Information Specialist, please call between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday.

Casper Star-Tribune – (Wyoming) Sinclair Oil will pay a $378,000 fine under a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stemming from a 2010 inspection of the company‘s troubled oil refinery near Rawlins, Wyoming, the agency announced October 11. EPA said the inspection showed Sinclair did not properly implement its risk management plan, a key requirement for the facility, which deals with a large range of toxic substances and hazardous gases . Under the terms of the deal, Sinclair will also update operating procedures for its process equipment, provide additional training to workers, improve maintenance of equipment, and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels and piping that will reduce the possibility of an acci-dental release of hazardous chemicals from the refinery, per EPA. Source: http://trib.com/business/energy/epafines-sinclair-for-violations-atrawlins-refinery/article_ab4bb5b1-7acd-5ca6-b11c-32b025aad098.html

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Newest Version of Tier II

EPA fines Sinclair $378,000 for violations at Rawlins refinery

The lingering smell of gasoline near a busy intersection on the Rocky Boy Reservation in north central Montana has finally dissipated thanks to collaborative work between the Chippewa Cree Tribe, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Records since 2010 from the Pastime Gas station indicate that more than 70,000 gallons of 88-octane gasoline were unaccounted for and are presumed part of a major discharge from the facility. In May 2012, witnesses reported gasoline bubbling up from be-neath one of the station’s service pumps and a steady sheen ema-nating from the banks of Sundance Creek which flows within 150’ of the gas station and feeds Box Elder Creek, a Missouri River tributary, just downstream. The Chippewa Cree Tribal Water Resource Department reported the

incident to the National Response Center and EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Martin McComb was dispatched to the site on May 22. There he discovered significant subsurface contamination throughout the property, in particular, beneath the service station. OSC McComb determined that the primary path of the discharge was subsurface and, most likely, flowed downward from the leaky service pump, underneath the gas station convenience store, and towards the slope to Sundance Creek. To stabilize the situation the Tribe closed the gas station, the primary source of fuel on the res-ervation, removed both the service pumps and the gasoline that remained in storage, and dis-connected all utilities to the building. Excavation behind the service station and along Sundance Creek revealed a 4-foot thick layer of contaminated soil sitting directly atop the water table. A former landfill, three miles north of the gas station, was used to land-farm the excavated con-taminated soils and is now being regularly tilled to dissipate volatile organic compounds. All excavated areas were backfilled and stabilized with erosion netting and rip rap. A real-time air monitoring network was established during the response action on the perimeters of both the gas station and the land farm using EPA’s Viper system. GeoProbe and hand-augured bor-ing cores from an adjacent wetland revealed that contamination did not appear to extend to the opposite side of Sundance Creek. In a November report to the U.S. Coast Guard, who is funding the response action, OSC McComb said the disturbed soils were reseeded and a final pollution report is planned to be is-sued after evaluating how the system responds to wet conditions during the spring.

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Emergency Response

  Excavation above Sundance Creek 

Gasoline Leak Contaminates Sundance and Box Elder Creeks EPA, Chippewa Cree, Coast Guard Collaborate on Solution

December 12, 2012: Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk M. Taylor along with several VIP’s will break ground on the site of the new Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Center at 1:00 PM on Wednesday December 12, 2012. Along with conference and office space, the building will house the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, the Pueblo County Emergency Operations Center, and the Pueblo Community Joint Infor-mation Center. Sheriff Taylor will be inviting Emergency Services Bureau Chief Mark A. Mears, FEMA CSEPP Section Chief Doug Becvar, Colorado CSEPP Program Manager Bruce E. Holloman, Commissioners’ Anthony Nunez, John Cordova, and Jeff Chostner, Pueblo Chemical Depot Commander Lt. Col Timothy Greenhaw, Pueblo CSEPP Coordinator Carl Ballinger, along with representatives from HW Houston, and HGF Architects to “grab a shovel” and share in the groundbreaking activity. For nearly two decades the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, Emer-gency Management officials, and the policy makers in Pueblo County have trained for, planned for, and responded to disasters by heading into the basement of the Pueblo County Judicial Building. Previously jail space, the current facility has limited physical room and technology restrictions that prohibited growth and impeded functionality. Sheriff Taylor is happy to see the project move from a proposal on paper to reality. “It has taken two years to find the ideal location, ensure the funding is in place, work with envi-ronmental & historical entities, and design the right type of space. Now we have done that and we are excited about the opportunities this new building will bring to the Sheriff’s Of-fice, our local response agencies, and the region. We certainly would like to thank our CSEPP partners at the state and federal level for making this possible. ” Source: www.sheriff.co.pueblo.co.us/?pio=1173

Contacts: David Cobb, 303-312-6592; Matthew Allen, 303-312-6085 (Denver, CO., Dec 20, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today an-nounced a settlement with Dallas-based Holly Refining and Marketing Company (Holly), resolv-ing alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company’s refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. The com-pany has agreed to pay civil penalties of $115,000 for violations of risk management program requirements associated with the storage and use of flammable substances and hazardous chemicals. An EPA inspection of the Woods Cross refinery in 2011 revealed issues with the facility’s man-agement of flammable substances and the maintenance program associated with a propane storage unit. Holly has agreed to move forward with the planned closure of the frozen-earth storage unit and correct other risk management program violations.

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Pueblo, CO Emergency Services Center Groundbreaking

Holly Refining to pay $115K penalty and improve risk management at Woods Cross, Utah refinery

“Companies using chemicals and substances which pose a potential danger to their employees and the public are responsible for having a robust risk management program in place,” said Mike Gaydosh, director of EPA’s enforcement program in Denver. “Failure to do so places the environment, employees, and the nearby community at risk.” The penalty was assessed under Section 112(r) of the federal Clean Air Act, which requires the development of Risk Management Plans for all public and private facilities that manufacture, process, use, store, or otherwise handle flammable substances and toxic chemicals. EPA enforces risk management requirements of the Clean Air Act with a goal of preventing acci-dental chemical releases and minimizing the impact of releases or other accidents that may oc-cur. Facilities are subject to these regulations because they store the flammable or highly toxic chemicals above regulatory thresholds. Risk Management Plans help companies, industries, and municipalities operate responsibly, as-sist emergency responders by providing vital information necessary to address accidents and other incidents, protect the environment by preventing and minimizing damage from accidental releases, and keep communities safer. For more information on the Clean Air Act and risk management requirements: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/caa_faqs.htm

This Report Summary identifies the number of spill reports, by month, day of week, state, cause, source, medium, and material. The Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) database is the storehouse for all spill re-ports received by the National Response Center (NRC). The NRC is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, who acts as the EPA’s agent to receive and enter the initial spill report data into the NRC. The NRC spill reports are composed of unverified data, which are gathered and reported by the public, industries, regulatory agencies, and anonymous reporting parties (i.e., primarily untrained observers). NRC reports are checked for obvious NRC duty officer data entry errors; the NRC spill reports are then transferred into the ERNS database. The ERNS database identi-fies what types of spills and releases have occurred in EPA Region 8. For further information on hese charts, contact: Joe Byron, EPA Region8 at Byron.joseph@epa.gov (303) 312-6239.

GRAPH 1 SPILL REPORTS BY MONTH FISCAL YEAR 2012

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Holly Refining to pay $115K penalty and improve risk management at Woods Cross, Utah refinery (Cont.)

Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) Database Sup-port Reports Summary for Fiscal Year 2012

GRAPH 2 SPILL REPORTS BY DAY OF WEEK FISCAL YEAR 2012

GRAPH 3 SPILL REPORTS BY STATE FISCAL YEAR 2012

GRAPH 4 SPILL REPORTS BY CAUSE FISCAL YEAR 2012

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Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) Database Sup-port Reports Summary for Fiscal Year 2012 (Cont.)

GRAPH 5 SPILL REPORTS BY SOURCE FISCAL YEAR 2012

GRAPH 6 SPILL REPORTS BY MEDIUM FISCAL YEAR 2012

GRAPH 7 OIL SPILLS REPORTS BY MONTH FISCAL YEAR 2012

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Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) Database Sup-port Reports Summary for Fiscal Year 2012 (Cont.)

 

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This newsletter provides information on the EPA Risk Management Program, EPCRA, SPCC/FRP (Facility Response Plan) and other issues relating to Accidental Release Prevention Requirements. The information should be used as a reference tool, not as a definitive source of compliance information. Compliance regulations are published in 40 CFR Part 68 for CAA section 112(r) Risk Management Program, 40 CFR Part 355/370 for EPCRA, and 40 CFR Part 112.2 for SPCC/FRP.

Call our hotline, the Superfund, TRI, EPCRA, RMP, and Oil Information Center (800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810 TDD (800) 553-7672 or (703) 412-3323 Mon-Thurs 10:00 am to 3:00 pm ET (except Federal Holidays) or see

www.epa.gov/superfund/contacts/infocenter/index.htm.

You can also call or write to:

U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street (8EPR-ER)

Denver, CO 80202-1129 800-227-8917

CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY

To report an oil or chemical spill, call the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.

Need More info on the Risk Management Program (RMP)?

RMP Reporting Center

The Reporting Center can answer questions about software or installation problems. The RMP Reporting Center is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for questions on the Risk Management Plan program: (703) 227-7650 (phone) RMPRC@epacdx.net (e-mail)

Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention Office (CEPPO) http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/index.htm

Compliance and Enforcement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/index.html

Compliance Assistance: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/index.html

Risk Management Program (RMP) Bradley Miller—Coordinator 303-312-6483 / miller.bradley@epa.gov

Acronym List

IMT Incident Management Team

OPA Oil Pollution Act

RRT Regional Response Team

RSC Response Support Corps

SPCC Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures www.nrc.uscg.mil

1 (800) 424-8802

Preparedness Unit Mission Statement:

We will increase EPA Region 8 preparedness through:

Planning, Training, Exercising, and developing outreach relations with federal agencies, states, tribes, local organizations and the regulated community. Assisting in the development of EPA Region 8 preparedness planning and response capa- bilities through the RSC, IMT, RRT, OPA, RMP, etc. Working with facilities to reduce accidents and spills through education, inspections and enforcement. To view our programs, or contact a member of our team:

(Click here for Org Chart)